Screen door insect trap



Aug. 24, 1943. w, A, HALL 2,327,421

' SCREEN DoonINsEcT TRAP Filed Mar'ch 22, 19,45

Patented Aug. 24, 1.943

l UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE Y SCREEN Doon INSECT TRAP William A. Hall, San Acacio, Colo. Application vMarch 2,2, 1943, serial No. 480,080 y o 'z claims. (01.43-110) This invention relates generally to the class of trapping and pertains particularly to improvements in insect traps.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel insect trap which is designed to be applied to a standard screen door. tor trap nies and other insects which light on the outside of the screen and, as a usual thing, rise and ily over the top of the door in through the doorway when the screen door is opened, the trap being so designed that the insects will be forced to collect in a portion of the structure before the screen, when the door is opened, where they will be kept after the door is closed and from-which passv into a permanent trap receptacle.

Another object of the-invention is Ato provide an insect trap designed to be applied-to astandard screen door in which means is employed, when the door is opened, to sweep the flies-and other insects from the outer side of the screen upwardly into a receiving chamber in which they are trapped when the door is closed andfrom which they pass into la receptacle supportedat the side of the door, in which they may be destroyed.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing, it being understood, however, that Vthe invention is not to be considered as limited bythe specific illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitute a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:Y I f Y Y i Fig. l is a View in elevation of the inse'ct vtrapping device embodying the present invention, the same being shown mounted upon theouter side ofascreendoor." Y Y f Fig, 2 is a vertical section takensubsta'ntially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the -view being upon an enlarged scale. l l

Fig.-3 is avertical section on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1.- Y

Referring now more particularly --to the draw'- ing the numeral I generally designates a Vdoor frame while the numeral 2 designates a screen door frame which isfhingedly mounted in the usual manner inthe outer part of the door frame I.

As is well lnown screen doors usually haveV a large upper screen panel which is securediinA the door frame upon the outer side thereof."v

f In carrying out the lpresent invention this screen panel which is indicated'by the numeral 3, Lis YlocatedV upon theinner side o ithe door Vso that `there may be set in the'upper part of the frame Awhich is covered by the screen panel 3, the rectangular trap housing which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 4. This trap housing is set infrom the outer side of the screen door and pro-jects lto some extent forwardly therefrom.

The trap housing, as shown, comprises the top and bottom border walls 5 and `I respectively and the side border walls `Ithese border walls being secured in the frame in the manner illustrated.A ,The screen panel V3 covers the inner side of the trap housing, as shown, while theA outer or forward side has the downwardly extending short front'wall Siandthe inwardly and upwardly extending side and bottom flanges 9 and I0 respectively, Y At the inner side of the housing an imperforate inner wall I l may be provided of the same height as .the front wall 8, to cover a portion of the screen panel 3. Y

Extending across the housing along the bottom edge of the wall 8 is a rock shaftA I2 which carries an imperforate trap door I3 having a length equalto the interior width of the housing and having a width to extend -from the wall 8 rearwardly through the major. portion of the depth of the housing, when the trap door is in the horizontal position, shown in Fig. 2. This door together with. the top wall 5, thepanel II, front-wall 8 and adjacent portions of the side walls- 'I form a-trapping chamber inthe upper part of the housing which is generally designated by the vcharacter C and leading from this chamber through one sidewall the side wall nearest the hinged side of the door, is an insect outlet opening Ill. l v

.As-will be readily apparent the major portion of the forward side of the trap housing is open so `that flies and 'other insects will have easy access Yto the interior and may enterv and alight upon the o uteiside of the screen panel 3 which forms the inner orfback wall of the trap housing. vThere is thus formed. a relatively large rectangu- 'lar entrance openingV which is generally designed .by the character O.

Extending transversely ofthe entrance opening'O Yin vertically spaced parallel relation are rock bars i5v each of which carries the screen panel (I6 which is of a width substantially equalling the -distance between the adjacent shafts I5. Also, as will be readily seen, the width of the trap door I3 is'substantiallyv equal to the distance between the shaft I2, and the next lower shaft. I5. Thus itwill be seen that whenthedoor I3 Vand panels Vlli are oscillated downwardly to hanging position they will co-operate to form a closure for the opening O.

Co-ordinated swinging of the panel-like units IS-I 6 is effected through the medium of vertical side bars or links I'I, the upper ends of which are pivotally attached to the trap door panel I3 while intermediate their ends they are pivotally connected with the shaft I5 by the short crank arms I8.

Disposed transversely of the upper part of the trap housing in the chamber C is apulley vsha'it I9 upon which is mounted adjacent each end a pulley 2G while intermediate its ends is mounted a smaller pulley 2|. Y

The pulley 2l has wound thereon an elastic cord or belt 22 which passes around a guiderpuliley 23 through the top wall V ofthe housing` and upwardly to a bracket 24 which is 'securedY to the door frame above the screen door` andl to which the cord is attached. A second guide pulley in'- olicated by the numeral 25, may be mounted upon the top lof the screen door `frame for 'the elastic cord or belt -22 to pass over so -as to reduce friction as the door is swung open by preventing the -belt kfrom dragging across the top vedge of the door. y Y Y Y.

,Upon the inner side of `each Vof the side border walls 'I is placed a pair of spaced parallel guide strips 2G which form a trackway or guide channel 27. Extending transversely of the trap houSL- Ying is a horizontal brush bar 28 which 'has its ends slidably engaged in the opposite channels 21', as shown. This bar 28 forms kthe back of 'a brush, the bristles of which are indicated by the numeral 2S, and thesehave contact withfthe forward side of the screen panel 3 over whichthey Vmove vertically in .the manner hereinafter de.-

sCribed. At each end of -the-bar'28 there is .attached a cable or cord 30 which may be of relatively stiff or heavy elastic material and each of these cords passes upwardlyl and is attached to one 'of the pulleys 2.0. l Extending transversely inthe lower rpart .of lthe trap housing andssupported between;oppo

site bordering. side walls l isa spring roller s3I of the type. commonly employedvfor VWindg'lvv shades. .,'lhisspring rollertl has connected Atheretna-pair ,of cords or belts ,3,2 eachlotwhich has .an endyattachedtothe .brush ,han 28,(as

:Shown in Fig. ,2... The Springrof the Vroller SLCQQ- 4stantly tendsto turn the rollerlina directionwto ...wind up thecords 32 thereon ,sol yasnto maintain the brush in its lowermostposition and when be Ibrush is pulled upwardly by theVwiridingoi` he cord 33 on the pulleys 253 the"spring is placed under further Ltensioijl so that whe'n'theshaftv I'9 Vis free tab@ reverser turned .fheprie 'Off the sp1- ing roller will pull the .brush downaga'in 'to its former lowered position,y y I y "Adjacent the freewe'rtic'all edge Vof'tfiefs'ci door is located'an actuator unit'or th'e'pan-ls SS- 6', the same being indicated asa'whfleffby thech'arac'terlA. -This actuator 4unit comprises 'a vertically disposed "tubular housing '33 which adjacent, its lower portion is"`sliglitly enlarge'das indicated at 33'. This tube isv closed at its` lower end and open at' its upper end and it has disposed therein the vertically re'ciprocablev rod 34,` thefup- "per end owhichprojects beyondthe open top of the'tube and carries a roller or other VVAanti- `friction means 35.`

Within theenla1gedf'portion' 33 -"of Ythe Vtube is a coil springl 36. which' surrounds the r'od"34 and bears at-itsrlower end against` the'bottom portion of the tube enlargement while at itsiupper end it is secured to the rod in any suitable manner as by means of a collar 31 and this spring is normally under tension and tends to project the rod upwardly.

The roller carrying upper end of the rod 34 is disposed adjacent the -top of the screen door frame and when the screen door is closed the rod is held in downwardly forced position by means of the trip bracket 353, the outer portion of the bracket being turnedup,` as indicated at '38. AWhen the screen door is swung to open position the roller 35 moves from beneath the bracket 3S and the spring 35 projects the rod -rollerrides onto the upwardly turned end 38' of Vthe bracket and is smoothly but rapidly shifted downwardly vso that the rod is moved in the same 'mannerag'ainst the tension of the spring 36.

YThe rod 3st carries a pin B which projects laterally through a. vertical slot 49 formed in the wail `of the tube ,33. Adjacent the pin 39 there is lpivotally mounted upon 'theadjacent Vwall-1 a rocker lever di, one endof which is pivotally connected with the -pin y39,.

As rshown in Fig. 8, the pin 39er the rod 34 is :disposed adjacent to butl slightly fabove the rock shaft VI? and this shaft carries Va crank n ",whicnis operatively coupledY by means of Va link ,43. with the other end of `thejrockfjzr lever 4I. Bygmeans of this mechanism the trap door 'I3 andthe 'adjacent panels lI 6 arerocked into hori- Zontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, when the rod. 34 is forced downwardly 'against 4the tension Aof the spring 3,55 but when the rod isremoved from beneath the ytrip bracket 38 so that the tension spring Seican force ,it upwardly, `the mechanism will be actuated to v rock the crank 42 and*swingthe lpanels i-jll downardly into cooperative relation to close the opening O. Y

Mounted upon the Awall'adjacent the-hinged ,Side 0f the screen door isjan insect receiving receptacle R which is of light transmitting mate- `rial ,and vConnecting this receptacle with the insectdoutlet opening il. is a flexible tube 44 of v0112111111@ material.

VThis receptacle 'R may be jprorvided -lwithrany Suitable typerof removable tentamen Het Shown, into ywhicnthe insects will -passf from the tube 64,1 and which Ycan be taken away Iso that the insects maybe conveniently destroyed. v Y l j ln ,the operation'of the present trap mechanism it will be apparentvythat when `the screen-dqor is closed the panels I3-I5 will Abe raised to horizontal position and iiiesandother insectsngay vthen vfreely advance to the outerside of the screen; panel Svupon which they willi-alight in the usual manner. The brush 291is atvits lower,- most; position v and the 4rod ill-iis held Vdepressed by thetripbracket S28. 1f the screen dQQrisriow opened a pull will be applied to the cord-22 which `will rotetethe .shafti .and will` cause. the'flh t0 be drawn upwardly over the-guter. Side, .fhe screen panel thus-sweeping off the insects''d causing them to rise.Y However?? lector@n thefbr'sh has risen to any"Y extent the rod- 34 will be 'released andy the spring S5 lwill .act to rapi'dlyclose the panels I3- I-' to prevent the insectsgpass'ng out through the opening O. In accrdance'with '.irisectsitbe inseets.. the streep' rillir'ise'fin fthe housing intothe upper part or chamber C. Whn the SQreendQOf-ie released. and. albwdtol 'rin t0; its. .lesesloitonihe @web :Will tn f6 its flowermostj position and the rod 34,'whn" `roller Si passesV under andncontacfwith'the trip bracket 38, will be rapidly depressed and will cause the pan-el l 3-l E to swing back to horizontal position. The imperforate and opaque panelr or trap door I3 will thus rise and close the lower part of the chamber kC thus trapping the insects Y in this chamber and since the interior of the Y chamber will be relatively dark the natural tendency of the insects will be to move toward the outlet i4 through which light will enter from the trap receptacle R. It is well known that flies in particular, as well as other insects, will not pass downwardly through an opening but always tend to rise, therefore, they will naturally move toward the outlet I4 and pass through into the receptacle R. The receptacle may then be taken away and the insects destroyed in any satisfactory manner.

The cable, belt or cord 22 is, as previously stated, of relatively heavy elastic material. this arrangement when the brush has risen to its topmost position further opening movement may be given to the screen door without damaging the structure since the cord will then yield to allow such additional movement. It is to be understood, however, that the cord will be of sufficient strength to impart the desired rotation to the shaft I9 so as to raise the brush against the tension of the spring roller 3l and the cord will only stretch after excessive strain is placed thereon as by the further opening of the screen door after the brush has risen to the upper limit of its movement.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a screen door, of

means providing a chamber at the upper part of the screen, the chamber having a bottom opening and further having an outlet opening above the bottom, means disposed upon the outer side of the screen below the chamber for movement over the screen toward the open bottom of the chamber to compel insects to rise from the screen and enter the chamber through the open bottom, means for actuating said irst means, and an insect receiver disposed at one side of the screen and having communication with said outlet opening to receive insects from the chamber.

2. In combination with a screen door having a screen panel, means forming a chamber at the upper part of the screen panel, said chamber having a bottom inlet opening and having a wall provided with an insect outlet opening disposed above the bottom opening, an element normally closing the major portion of the bottom opening and shiftable to an open position, means for effecting the shifting of said element to open position upon the opening of the door, means movable over the screen toward said chamber inlet opening for effecting upward movement of insects from the screen into the inlet opening, means for effecting the movement of the last mentioned means upon opening of the door, and a receiver having communication with said outlet opening. Y

3. An insect trapping mechanism of the character stated in claim 2 including means operating in co-operation with the said means for closing the bottom opening of the chamber for covering the rear open side of the housing being covered by the screen of the door, means forming a chamber-across the top of the housing, a movable closure member forming Ia bottom wall for the chamber, said closure member being swingable downwardly into the open forward part Vof the housing to open the lower part of the chamber, a plurality of panels coi-operating with said closure Vmember and supported for oscillation therewith for effecting the complete closing of said forward opening, said panels and closure being horizontally disposed when the door is closed, means for effecting oscillation for the panels and closure through the stated cri-operation relation upon the opening of the door, means for causing insects upon Athe outer side of the screen` to move upwardly into the casing upon the opening of the oor and after the downwardswinging of the panels and closure, and'means by which the insects may move out of the chamber.

5. A trapping mechanism as set forth in claim i in which the stated means for causing the insects to move from the screen into the chamber comprises a brush supported for vertical movement in the casing over the surface oi' the screen, and means connected with the brush for moving the from a lowermost vposition to an uppermost position simultaneously with the opening of screen door.

6. An insect trapping mechanism comprising a rectangular .housing having a forward opening and open at its rear, said housing being designed to be mounted againsta screen door screen to have the rear opening covered thereby, means forming a chamber in the upper part of the housing, said chamber including a movable bottom Wall, a rock shaft extending across the lower part of the chamber and supporting said bottom wall,

a plurality of shafts in vertically spaced parallel relation with the rock shaft and extending across the forward opening, a panel carried by each of the stated plurality of rock shafts, said bottom wall closure and said panels being swingable from a horizontal position to a vertical position inA which they co-operate to close said forward opening, an outlet for said chamber, a linkage mechanisrn operatively coupling all of said shaft for ciprocable element in the opposite direction upon the side of the screen adjacent to the chamber disposition of thesupporting door in closed position, mechanism for eectin'g the upward movement of insects from the forward side of the screen into said chamber when said opening is closed, and `an insect receiver having communication with the said outlet opening of the chamber. y Y

7. A structure as set forth in claim in which the stated means for effecting the upward movement of the insects comprises a brush supported within the housing for vertical movement over the forward face of the screen, means operatively coupled withvthe brush and adapted for connection with a iixed point with respect to the movable screen" door for drawing the brush upwardly as the screen door is swung into open position, and means for returning the brush to itslowermost position in the housing when the screen door is moved to itsclosed position. 

